Kansas City @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( May 13, 2010 ) Cleveland 4, Kansas City 6
The Cleveland Indians took two of three from the Royals just last week in Kansas City, but that was with a healthy lineup.
During its just-completed 4-4 road trip, Cleveland was decimated by two key injuries.
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is expected to have surgery today on a fractured left forearm that could keep him out for the rest of the season. And center fielder Grady Sizemore’s left knee hasn’t responded the way the team would’ve liked and he will have an MRI exam today.
That means the Indians will be without their Nos. 1 and 2 hitters for the foreseeable future.
Cabrera will be examined today in Baltimore by specialist Dr. Thomas Graham. The day likely will end in surgery for Cabrera, who was crying as he was carted off the field Monday following a collision with third baseman Jhonny Peralta.
Sizemore’s injury isn’t considered as serious, but it’s enough of a concern that team officials feel an MRI was necessary. Sizemore suffered a contusion sliding into a base in Baltimore. The Indians thought a couple of days off would be enough, but now have scheduled the precautionary MRI.
With the lineup in flux, Trevor Crowe batted leadoff and played center and Mark Grudzielanek hit second in a 6-2 loss to the Rays on Tuesday.
The Indians will likely continue to juggle the lineup at least until Sizemore returns. Jason Donald was called up from Triple-A to take Cabrera’s roster spot and went 2 for 3 and scored a run in his major league debut.
Although Donald has played second base exclusively in the minors, he can also play shortstop. Given Luis Valbuena’s struggles this year when trying to play short, Donald will likely stay there until Cabrera returns.
The Royals have their own concerns with starter Gil Meche, who not long ago was the ace of the staff. Since Aug. 18, 2009, Meche is 0-5 with a 7.58 ERA. He has a 7.17 ERA this season, but has actually pitched much better in his last two starts.
Meche has allowed four runs in his last 14 innings, but has struck out seven and walked nine over that time so control is still an issue.
This will be Cleveland’s first look at Kansas City under manager Ned Yost. Trey Hillman was fired last Thursday shortly after the Royals avoided a sweep with a victory over the Indians. Kansas City is 3-2 under Yost.